Riftstorm - Chaotic Co-Op Roguelite Mayhem! 🎮 : Review

TL;DR: Riftstorm is a high-energy PvE roguelite that challenges players to clear rooms, pick perks, and craft powerful weapons at their home base. It’s fast-paced, chaotic, and best enjoyed with friends. While the crafting system adds excitement, the grind for higher-tier weapons and slower progression may frustrate some players. Still, for those who enjoy intense co-op experiences, Riftstorm is worth checking out. Score: Enjoyed, would recommend playing it.

Introduction: If you’ve ever wanted a roguelite that balances frantic room-clearing with moments of strategic planning, Riftstorm might just be your next obsession. This PvE game throws you into an unpredictable gauntlet of enemies and challenges, with a touch of randomness to keep every run exciting. Whether you're fighting alongside friends in co-op or carefully crafting weapons at your home base, Riftstorm knows how to keep you on your toes. With its immersive sound design, dynamic visuals, and engaging mechanics, the game offers a rewarding, albeit occasionally grind-heavy, experience.

Core Gameplay Loop: Riftstorm is all about balancing chaos with strategy. The game tasks players with clearing rooms filled with varied enemies while managing resources like health, shields, and ammo. Perks picked mid-run can significantly affect your chances of survival, and one poor choice can derail an otherwise strong run. Trust me, I once picked a perk that reduced short-range damage while using a shotgun—it was as painful as it sounds.

Each level comes with a suggested power score, ensuring a gradual difficulty curve if you stick to it. But if you’re feeling adventurous, skipping ahead to higher-difficulty levels ramps up the challenge and keeps things exciting. The runs are fast-paced and full of adrenaline, with the intensity balanced by the calmer moments spent at the home base. Between battles, you’ll craft weapons, plan missions, and strategize your next move, creating a satisfying rhythm that keeps you coming back for more.

Co-op and Multiplayer Experience: Playing Riftstorm solo is possible, but the game truly shines in co-op mode. Working with friends adds a new level of strategy, as you coordinate revives, plan perk selections, and share the glory (or frustration) of each victory or defeat. Voice chat on Discord made my sessions even more enjoyable, as we joked and plotted our way through each run. That said, an in-game voice chat system would be a welcome addition for smoother multiplayer experiences.

Surprisingly, multiplayer connections held up well. Even when playing with teammates from different continents, we encountered no major issues, with ping being impressively well-managed. If you’re going to dive into Riftstorm, make sure you bring friends—it’s where the game truly shines.

Crafting and Progression: Between runs, players can craft weapons using fragments and materials collected during gameplay. The crafting system feels rewarding but unpredictable, as you can either craft random weapons within a type or follow specific recipes. This randomness keeps things fresh but can also be frustrating if you’re chasing a particular weapon. Progression slows noticeably at higher levels, with rarer weapons requiring significantly more resources. While I was lucky enough to have a special code that sped things up, others may find the grind tedious as they climb the progression ladder.

Graphics, Sound, and Immersion: Visually, Riftstorm is a treat. The latest update brought more varied environments, breaking away from basic “four walls” designs and introducing open maps with unique layouts. These changes keep the gameplay visually interesting while staying true to the room-clearing formula.

The sound design complements the visuals perfectly. Distinct audio cues for different enemy attacks and weapons make combat both engaging and immersive. Add in impactful visual effects, and you’ve got a game that makes you feel every hit, explosion, and near miss. The chaotic battles come alive in a way that keeps you glued to the screen.

Verdict: Riftstorm is a well-rounded PvE roguelite that rewards players who embrace its chaotic gameplay and strategic depth. Whether it’s the adrenaline of clearing rooms, the excitement of crafting new weapons, or the camaraderie of co-op play, the game delivers on multiple fronts. While slower progression and the grind for higher-tier weapons might test your patience, the overall experience is worth it—especially if you’ve got friends to join the storm.

I enjoyed my time with Riftstorm and would recommend it for players who thrive on co-op chaos and quick thinking. So grab your teammates, plan your perks wisely, and prepare for the storm—because this roguelite doesn’t hold back.